SHIPPING.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 711, 29 September 1876, Page 2

SHIPPING.

PORT OF LYTTELTON. Weather Report : Sept 29—8 a.m, wind S,W., light; weather clear, bine sky. Barometer, 29.78; thermometer, 52. High Water : To-morrow —Morning, 1.10 ; afternoon, 1.31. ARRIVED. Sept 28 —Advance, schooner, 59 tons, Hamilton, from Poverty Bay. Sept 29—Edward, schooner, 32 tons, Dalmer, from Leßon’s Bay. Sept 29—Courier, ketch, 31 tons, Sinclau, from Pigeon Bay. CLEARED. Sept 29—Marmion, schooner, 92 tons, Bowton, for Kaipara, via Wellington. Sept 29—Nonpareil, 399 tons, Brent, for Newcastle, N.S. W. Sept 29—Elizabeth Conway, 45 tons, Ware for Greymouth, A barque from the South was signalled at noon to-day. ARRIVAL OF THE SHIP MEROPE. This favorite composite liner was signalled early yesterday morning. Of the many vessels flying Shaw, Saville and Co’s colors none have ever won a greater reputation than the Merope, her rapid passages and splendid sea-going qualities alike endearing her to the many residents in the province that she has brought safely here from England. Directly the signal “ a ship from the South” was made, the word was passed that it must be the Merope, the general belief being that she would make a rapid passage, and rumor for once was correct, for at 10 a.m up went the number, and speculation was set at rest. The Hawea arrived early, but thought the vessel could not be the Merope as she had painted ports, being ignorant of the new regulation of Messrs '■ haw, Saville and Co, which directs that all their vessels shall in future be painted in that way. About 10.30 a.m the s.s Gazelle with health officer, agents, &c, aboard proceeded to the ship, which under the charge of the pilot. Captain Galbraith, had brought up off Rhodes Bay. The vessel was speedily passed, all being well aboard, and we were permitted to take a view of the vessel. Opinions differ as to whether painted ports show the ship to greater advantage than formerly, when she was celebrated for “the wearing ofthe green,” butpaint has little effect in such a model as that of the Merope, her beautiful lines satisfying the eye however disguised. Spite of her seven trips to Lyttelton she looked as fresh as .paint, and it was only after a good look that we could see that she had had a hard tussle of it on the passage out. Deeply laden, and with a slight list to starboard, it was not to be expected that such a rapid run could be made as on former occasions, when the vessel was light and carrying immigrants (enough to put any commander on his mettle to reach his destination as speedily as possible), but the ninety-one days, with a vessel of the Merope’s tonnage, drawing 19ft 6in of water, is an extremely creditable performance, particularly when we remember the calms at the commencement, and the cyclone towards the end, ofthe run, particulars ot which will be found in our report of the trip. Some of the bulwarks had been washed away by the sea, but the stock aboard, consisting of two shorthorn bulls, berthed in a stall on deck just forward of the after hatch, had escaped, thanks to the great care shown. Going through the ship we found that there had been no illness whatever of a serious nature during the passage; the second class passengers had been accommodated in the house on deck aft of the galley- whilst the third class had their quarters down the after hatch. All throughout the ship spoke in high praise of the kindness and care of Captain Sutherland and his officers, and though some of them, as usual with new arrivals, wondered a little why they had not been provided with real turtle and choice wines in the steerage during the run, still there was very little grumbling, comparatively speaking, and less cause for_ it. The passengers had determined to give a testimonial to Captain Sutherland, showing how much they appreciated his kindness, and before these lines are read by the public it will have been presented, and we question if ever such a testimony to skill has been more deservedly gained. The captain who could safely bring a vessel, without the parting of a line, through such a storm as that experienced on the 7th, Bth, and 9th of this month, when, to use his own plain words—“lt blew harder and there was a heavier sea than I have ever seen before, and I have been thirty years at sea, man and boy”—is really deserving credit. The following Is the report ot the trip kindly furnished by Captain Sutherland:— Left Gravesend on the 27th of June, was towed to the Downs, where the tug left her. Light W. and SW. winds prevailed down Channel, accompanied with thick fog. Landed the pilot at the Start on the 30th, and thence had a combination of calms and light variable winds up to July 17th. When in latitude 26 N- the N.E. trades were met with. They proved very light, and were lost in 14 N., whence a succession of light and baffling weather and calms prevailed. The Equator was crossed on August 3rd, in long 25 W. Had favorable B.E. trades, which carried the ship to 26 S. Crossed the meridian of the Cape on the 26th of August, Inlat 45 S. Between that point and Tasmania met with very rough and unsettled weather. When in lat 47, long 90 E , experienced a terrific cyclone, which lasted during the 7th. Bth, and 9th of September. It commenced from the north, and after a few hours changed to west, and blew with terrific violence. For twenty-four hours the sea ran fearfully high. A sudden calm came on on the night of the Bth, and lasted a few hours; after which the ship, which had evidently been in the centre of the cyclone, caught the gale again from the south. A terrific cross sea was thus raised, and a great portion of the bulwarks were washed away, and a part of the front of the poop damaged. The ship behaved admirably, though she was very deep. Sighted the Snares at 2 p.m. on the 23rd, thus making the passage in 85 days from land to land. From the Snares had light northerly winds up the coast, passing the Peninsula on Tuesday, and being off the Heads on Wednesday evening, lying becalmed there; running into harbor yesterday mtrning as stated above.